Kalinaw News: Tired high-ranking CNT member in AgNor abandons movement

Posted to Kalinaw News (Sep 18, 2020): Tired high-ranking CNT member in AgNor abandons movement

BUENAVISTA, Agusan del Norte – After years of serving the group which he thought would give him and his family a better life, a high-ranking member of the Communist New People’s Army Terrorist (CNT) finally made up his mind and called off his association with the communist movement and returned to the folds of the law.

Alias DANSOY/KEVIN, 40, the Political Instructor (PI) of Sentro de Grabidad (SDG) CAOCAO, Guerilla Front (GF) 4A of the North Central Mindanao Regional Committee (NCMRC) of the CNT surrendered to the troopers of 23rd Infantry “Masigasig” Battalion in the afternoon of September 17, 2020, at the battalion’s headquarters in Jamboree Site, Purok 6, Barangay Alubihid, Buenavista, Agusan del Norte. He also handed over to the Army during his surrender three high-powered firearms and assorted ammunition. Alias DANSOY/KEVIN is a resident of Km. 14, Sitio Hinandayan, Barangay Camagong, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte.

Lt. Col. Julius Cesar C. Paulo, the commander of 23rd IB personally welcomed Alias DANSOY/KEVIN and received the high-powered firearms and ammunition he surrendered, to include one (1) M16 Rifle with an attached grenade launcher, 40mm M203, one (1) M4 Rifle and one (1) Carbine Rifle which is all serviceable.

During the interview, Alias DANSOY/KEVIN said he was recruited and joined the CNT movement because of their propaganda and promises. He was made to believe by the CNT leaders that abundant life will be given to him and his family. After five (5) long years with the movement, he realized that the promises made to him were false and deceptive. During his stay in the CNT movement, he also made some realizations, the biggest of which is the fact that the armed revolution the communist movement espouses is not designed to liberate the people, especially the poor, but to terrorize and press them more to hunger and poverty. He also measured, after years of fighting the government, that the CNT movement will not win as hatred and detestation of the people, especially those who fell in their terroristic activities, are now growing.

DANSOY/KEVIN also testified that infighting among the CNT leaders and within the members also start to divide the movement. With the pandemic that made the government impose quarantine protocols coupled with the surrender of mass supporters, hardships also struck the movement due to the scarcity of food and other basic needs.

“Human sa lima (5) ka tuig nako nga pag lihok sa walhong grupo, nakadisisyon ko nga mobalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno tungod kay wala nako kasabot sa paamagi sa sulod sa kalihukan. Wala na mi nagkasinabot, nag sige na me ug bangi tungod kay nag isig pataasay na ang matag usa sa tahas. Grabe ang krisis nga among natagamtaman sa sulod, pirme nalang mi mapasmo, usahay maayo nalang ug maka kaon me ug kan-on kausa sa matag adlaw ug sili lang ug asin ang among isud-an,” DANSOY/KEVIN said.

He added, “Usa usab sa rason nga mibiya ko sa kalihukan tungod kay gimingaw nako sa akong pamilya ug mga anak. Miabot ang panahon nga mikontak ang akong asawa sa ako ug mihangyo nga pahawaon na ko sa kalihukan tungod kay wala nay nag atiman sa among mga anak labi na niining panahon sa pandemya. Nangita dayon kog higayon nga makaikyas ko dala ang tag-as nga armas. Tungod kay gigukod man ko sa akong mga kauban, ako lang sang gitago ang mga armas sa kalasangan aron ba;likan lang dayon kauban ang kasundaluhan.”

Lt. Col. Paulo assured the former Political Instructor of GF-4A that the government will provide help to his family through the Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).

“The surrender of this high-ranking CNT member is a manifestation that their weakened group is slowly attenuating. Aside from that, they can no longer move from place to place because our troops are visible anywhere. We have deployed our joint Community Support Program Teams of the army and Community Action Teams of the PNP in vulnerable areas and we are also relentlessly conducting our focused military operations to clear the areas that were commonly known as CNT lairs. Clearly, these CNTs have nowhere to hide now, and they will surely suffer from great hunger due to less access to food supplies. As you can see, Alias DANSOY also starved even though he was ranked higher than his comrades, and his family whom he left behind also suffered because the CNT does not regularly provide food to them,” Paulo said.

He also reiterated his call to the remaining CNT members to lay down their arms and go back to their family and to the government.

“Real victory will only be felt once you leave the armed group. They will never help nor value you. Our government is waiting for your return and is always willing to help you to change your lives in order for you and your family to have a brighter future,” Paulo said.

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